Austin, Texas. The name alone has a ring to it. Immediately one thinks country music, University of Texas football, and affordable living in a city continuously voted one of America's hippest towns and best places to raise a family. With several of the country's top music festivals per year and Willie Nelson's annual Fourth of July picnic, Austin feels like one big honky-tonk. Add a new air route from Jet Blue, some stellar barbecue joints with beef ribs the size of Texas and some good travel deals at local hotels, and Austin might be as good a place to visit as live.
New from Jet Blue (tel. 800/538-2583, www.jetblue.com) are two direct flights routes into Austin from New York and Boston. New York web fares start at approximately $69 each way with Boston coming in at $89. Regular fares for those same routes come in between $129 and $294. Air taxes and security fees are additional. At these prices, media and film types tired of high New York rates could practically live in Austin and commute to New York. Look for city information on Austin soon at the Jet Blue site. For now, the site lists several deals to Austin-area hotels. From March 23 to May 8, 2006, $92 bucks will buy you a room at La Quinta Inn (tel. 512/476-1166; www.lq.com), located just blocks from the Texas capital building and a short walk to Austin's main rowdy music drag, world-famous Sixth Street (www.6street.com).
Jet Blue's site also advertises deals to the Driskill Hotel (tel. 800/252-9367; www.driskillhotel.com), possibly the swankest and the most old-fashioned of Texas hotels in Austin costs approximately $206 from the same dates. The Driskill is reminiscent of the days of Texas oil barons, Remington paintings, and the Old West. The bar at the Driskill, decorated in dark wood, is one of Austin's best meeting places. The hotel is located in the middle of town, a stone's throw from Sixth Street, a walk to the river, and a short ride to Congress Avenue where some of Austin's more authentic music venues are situated.
One of those venues, the Continental Club (tel. 512/441-2444; www.continentalclub.com/Austin.html) is a rollicking bar/live music venue with a neon sign so big you can probably see it from Dallas. This legendary venue is as local as you can get with hometown bands and national touring musical acts. The joint opened in 1957 attracting touring big bands such as Jimmy Dorsey and Glenn Miller. Later, in the sixties and seventies, the Butthole Surfers and Stevie Ray Vaughan rocked the house. Beers are cheap, the pool tables out back are a welcome respite from the live music up front, and the bartenders pour heavy drinks.
Barbecue lovers have to head to The Salt Lick (tel. 512/858-4959; www.saltlickbbq.com), a Texas institution in nearby Driftwood, is a half hour outside of Austin on the same road to famed Texas towns Luckenbach and Fredericksburg.The County Line BBQ (tel. 512/327-1742; www.countyline.com) comes in as close second. The d¿cor's not much, but the food is with Fred Flinstone-sized beef ribs and some tender slow-cooked, sumptuous brisket. The County Line's music series highlights local performers who play as you eat. Last but not least, there's Stubbs BBQ (tel. 512/444-2001; www.stubbsaustin.com), whose great food is only matched by its constant ability to book big-name musical acts such as Willie Nelson, Jerry Jeff Walker, Muddy Waters, Johnny Cash, Linda Rondstadt, and recently, as in tomorrow night, the Strokes, who are in town for the famous South by Southwest Music Festival.
Speaking of events, Austin has more music festivals than most states or small countries. South by Southwest (www.sxsw.com), taking place right now from March 10 to 19, 2006, is a hipster's dream with film, music, and technology events and panel discussions where creativity is the sole goal. In addition to the Strokes, this year's musical highlights include Beth Orton, Herbie Hancock, Kris Kristofferson and an appearance by the Beastie Boys, in town to promote their new film. Equally if not more impressive is the Austin City Limits Music Festival (www.austincitylimits.com/festival/gen_info.asp) taking place the weekend of September 15 to 17, 2006. While this year's line-up has yet to be announced, the festival always attracts the top music talent in the world. Last year's incredible line-up included Coldplay, Oasis, the Black Crowes, Lucinda Williams, Wilco, Buddy Guy and Franz Ferdinand.
One word of advice, stay away from the real estate section of the local newspaper. Prices for homes are affordable, and even after just one long weekend in Austin, you might be thinking a longer, much longer, stay in one of the countries most unique, intellectual and diverse towns.
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